Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, Who Oversaw Maduro and Trump Cases, Dies at 92

Alvin Hellerstein, a senior federal judge in Manhattan who was overseeing the prosecution of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and had handled matters involving President Donald Trump, has died at 92. Edward Friedland, district executive for the Southern District of New York courts, reported the death. Most accounts say it was Wednesday, though one says Tuesday, and the court said he died of natural causes just short of his 93rd birthday. President Bill Clinton appointed him in 1998, and he took senior status in 2011. His cases, including Maduro's, are to be randomly assigned to other judges, and Maduro's trial is scheduled for next June. Hellerstein held a hearing in the case about two weeks ago. Maduro was captured earlier this year in a raid, and he and his wife, Cilia Flores, face charges including conspiracy to commit torture under a superseding indictment. Hellerstein also presided over Trump's attempt to move his New York criminal case to federal court and over dozens of lawsuits after the 9/11 attacks. He served in the Army JAG Corps from 1957 to 1960 and spent 38 years in private practice before becoming a judge.

Right-leaning outlets give the most detail. The New York Post leads with the Trump, Maduro and 9/11 cases, then spends much of its piece on his legacy. Lawyers said he showed empathy to 9/11 families and rejected low settlement offers, while others were dismayed when he ended the 2008 landfill search for remains. Fox News leads with Maduro, adds the Trump venue fight, his Columbia degrees and the torture-conspiracy charges against Maduro and Flores, and gives the day of death as Tuesday. Both agree on his age, his Clinton appointment and the reassignment of the Maduro case. They differ in emphasis: the Post on 9/11, Fox on the Maduro charges. Alternative outlets Investing.com (Reuters) and The Hill are shorter and cover mostly the same facts, adding that he was unusual for keeping an active caseload into his 90s. Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had.